BAY CITY, MI — A house fire at 1400 Garfield Ave. in Bay City's South End was quickly extinguished this afternoon, to the good fortune of two dogs inside at the time.

Bay City Fire Department Deputy Chief Gary Gasta said the fire was reported about 12:10 p.m. today. When the elderly female resident arrived home and opened her door, smoke came billowing out, Gasta said.

Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and extinguished the blaze.

"There were two dogs in the house, and a firefighter was able to get one out and the other ran out behind them, so they were OK," Gasta said.

It appeared the fire started by improperly disposed of smoking materials, such as smoldering ashes or a cigarette butt, Gasta said, adding that the resident is a smoker.

Gasta estimated the damage at $30,000 and said it is not currently habitable, but the resident has insurance.

"It's a small house, and there's probably more heat and smoke damage than structural damage," Gasta said.

The fire is not connected to six other recent house fires, five of which were in the South End. The first, at 403 Michigan Ave., happened Sept. 27. The same structure was again ablaze on April 14, with the house immediately next door at 407 Michigan Ave. catching fire April 28 and again May 7. A garage fire at 903 Wilson St. was reported April 25.

The lone incident to occur beyond the South End happened May 6 at 204 N. DeWitt St. on the city's West Side.

Gasta said all the fires are suspicious and are still being investigated.